Australia will send two teams to the inaugural Women’s International Championship at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court this September, joining the United States and Canada as the only countries with multiple entries in the historic event.
The teams will be helmed by decorated match racer Katie Spithill, representing the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, and three-time Olympian Karyn Gojnich, sailing under the burgee of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
The inaugural New York Yacht Club International Women’s Championship will run from Sept. 12 to 19 at the club’s Harbour Court in Newport, using the club’s fleet of 20 IC37s. The 37-foot keelboat was designed by Mark Mills to a brief developed by the club and is described as a powerful, sporty platform that rewards cohesive crew work and athleticism. The championship is supported by founding partner Rolex and regatta sponsor Helly Hansen.
Spithill said crew selection has been a crucial part of her preparation, with her squad coming together from a deep pool of Sydney-area talent.
“For me it started with people, not positions,” Spithill said. “I wanted a group of women who are not only great sailors, but who are adaptable, and genuinely want to be part of something bigger. We are fortunate to have a large squad of very talented sailors here in Sydney, so the hardest part was that some people missed out. We’ve got a mix of backgrounds — some with high-performance racing experience, others with different pathways — and that diversity is one of our strengths.”
Gojnich was one of the first female sailors to represent Australia at the Olympics, crewing in a 470 at the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea. She also competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in the Yngling class. She said her team this fall will reflect a similar mix of backgrounds.
“We are fielding a team with varying levels of experience, from Olympic hopefuls to national competitors and aspiring sailors,” Gojnich said. “Everyone has come forward with tremendous enthusiasm and commitment to learning, developing as a team and becoming highly skilled sailors. We are a development team, so I’m excited to see just how far our team can come over the coming months and into the regatta.”
Gojnich said she has watched the sport transform over the decades.
“When the women’s events were introduced at the 1988 Olympic Games, the intention was to even up the gender balance, and to have more women sailing,” she said. “However, we are not there yet, there is still more progress to make.”
While the two Australian teams will be competitors on the water, Spithill said there is a shared sense of mission.
“It’s fantastic to have two teams representing Australia at the inaugural event,” she said. “There’s a shared goal of raising the level of women’s sailing in Australia, so it makes sense to support each other where we can. We plan to cross over during training days, as well as share insights and setups, and generally learn from each other’s experiences.”
The teams have also been bonding over their preparation, including time aboard the lone IC37 in Australia, which is co-owned by Scott Lawson and David Ferguson. The teams have also been studying video of past events and training on an MC38.
“It looks like a really fun boat to sail — but will definitely keep us honest,” Spithill said.
Gojnich said the new championship fills an important role in the women’s sailing pipeline.
“The NYYC Women’s International Championship fills a much-needed step in the sailing trajectory,” she said. “The design of the boat, along with NYYC providing a fleet of IC37s, is a thoughtful transition from club and national racing to high-performance keelboat competition.”
The full skipper field includes Ragna Agerup of Norway, Nicole Breault of the U.S., Marie Klok Crump of Denmark, Hannah Diamond of Great Britain, Sarah Douglas of Canada, Eliane Fierro of Mexico, Gojnich, Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick of the U.S., Michelle Lahrkamp of the U.S., Dominique Proyoveur of South Africa, Lisa Ross of Canada, Spithill, Ida Swensson of Sweden, Hannah Swett of the U.S., Laura van Veen of the Netherlands, Lena Weißkichel of Germany, Katrina Williams of Bermuda, Christina Wolfe of the U.S. and Lijia Xu of China.
Interested sailors are encouraged to complete the Women’s International Championship Crew Finder. The submitted information will be available only to qualified championship skippers.
